West African leaders gathered in an emergency virtual session on Thursday night to strongly condemn the military coup in Guinea-Bissau and demand the immediate restoration of constitutional rule, describing the developments as a serious threat to the country’s fragile democracy.
The extraordinary meeting, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, was convened at the level of Heads of State and Government within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council (MSC), to assess the growing crisis following the November 26 military takeover.
In the aftermath of the coup, ECOWAS leaders unanimously decided to suspend Guinea-Bissau from all decision-making bodies within the regional bloc until a complete and adequate constitutional order is reinstated.
The MSC reviewed a report presented by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, which outlined the deteriorating situation following the coup. Leaders expressed alarm over disruptions to the electoral process, praising citizens for their “resilience and commitment to democracy” during the November 23 polls.
The communiqué issued after the session condemned “in the strongest terms the coup d’état perpetrated on 26 November 2025” and called for the “unconditional restoration of constitutional order without delay.”
The leaders made it clear that ECOWAS “rejects any arrangements that perpetuate the illegal abortion of the democratic process and the subversion of the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau.”
They called on the coup organisers to allow the National Electoral Commission to proceed without delay and declare the results of the November 23 election. ECOWAS also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all detained officials, particularly President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and other electoral officials.”
In addition, ECOWAS warned the coup leaders that they would be held “both individually and collectively responsible” for the protection of life and property in Guinea-Bissau and for the security of all detainees.
As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, ECOWAS announced that a high-level mediation mission, led by the ECOWAS Chair and including the presidents of Togo, Cabo Verde, and Senegal, would travel to Bissau to engage with the coup leaders. The mission aims to ensure the complete restoration of constitutional order in the country.
The communiqué also called on Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces “to return to barracks and to maintain their constitutional role,” and directed the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to continue safeguarding state institutions.
ECOWAS concluded the session by reaffirming that it “reserves the right to use all options” under its protocols, including sanctions, against those found responsible for derailing the democratic process.
The African Union (AU) also condemned the military coup and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Embalo, echoing the concerns of ECOWAS.
The European Union (EU) joined other international actors in calling for a swift return to constitutional order and the resumption of the electoral process, highlighting the need to uphold democracy in Guinea-Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau has been thrown into political turmoil since Wednesday, when armed soldiers detained President Embalo and halted the release of provisional election results. Embalo, who had been locked in a tight contest with opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa, was flown to Senegal aboard a military aircraft on Thursday, where he was reported to be “safe and sound.”
The military, which seized power following the election dispute, appointed General Horta N’Tam, the army chief of staff, to lead a one-year transitional government. General N’Tam confirmed his appointment after taking an oath at the military headquarters.
Reports from Guinea-Bissau’s capital, Bissau, on Thursday indicated widespread market closures and soldiers patrolling key streets, as the country remains under military control.
Since Guinea-Bissau’s independence in 1974, the country has experienced four successful coups and numerous attempts
